. Five fair sisters : an Italian episode at the court of Louis XIV. uch for her. At the conclusion ofthe ceremony, medals of gold and silver bearing theportraits of the King and Queen were distributedamongst the people. From the naive confidences of Madame de Motte-ville, it would appear that, for the rest of that memor-able day, Louis XIV showed himself as much charmedwith his bride as if the match had been one of inclina-tion, instead of policy ; while, during the days whichfollowed, * the Queen testified towards the King themost lively affection, and took pleasure in revealing herpassion to
. Five fair sisters : an Italian episode at the court of Louis XIV. uch for her. At the conclusion ofthe ceremony, medals of gold and silver bearing theportraits of the King and Queen were distributedamongst the people. From the naive confidences of Madame de Motte-ville, it would appear that, for the rest of that memor-able day, Louis XIV showed himself as much charmedwith his bride as if the match had been one of inclina-tion, instead of policy ; while, during the days whichfollowed, * the Queen testified towards the King themost lively affection, and took pleasure in revealing herpassion to the eyes of all. While Louis XIV was spending his honeymoon atSaint-Jean-de-Luz, Marie Mancini, in Paris, had be-come the object of the most marked attentions onthe part of Prince Charles of Lorraine. Madame deChoisy, mother of the famous abbe of that name, anda lady who, according to Mile, de Montpensier, wasvery much given to match-making, had suggestedthe match to the prince, and, having taken counsel witha certain Abbe Buti, a very adroit Italian, whom Marie. _ I Iil; Iiy Xantc-uilPRINCE (AFTERWARDS CHARLES V) OF LORRAINE FIVE FAIR SISTERS 201 employed occasionally in her service, the latter, notwith-standing the watchfulness of Madame de Venel, foundmeans to acquaint her with the intentions of PrinceCharles.^ Marie received these overtures very favourably ;indeed, as her latest biographer very justly remarks,she would have been less than a woman had she be-haved otherwise. At the moment when the return ofLouis XIV and his bride was about to expose her tothe sneers or compassion of the Court, a handsomeyoung prince, heir to a great name and a great fortune,had become a suitor for her hand. Nor was this heronly motive. Mademoiselle, wrote Madame de Venelto the Cardinal, desires to cause uneasiness to himwho has occasioned her so much. One thought, infact, possessed her mind : to be married before thearrival of the King ; to show her faithless lover thatanother had
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